Resistance is Futile. Or Maybe Not.

September 6, 2006 8:59 PM

Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance. Ten web-only clips leading up to the premiere next month. (Requires Flash 8, by the looks of it.)
posted by Cyrano (40 comments total)

Dammit. The link directly to the clips now seems to redirect to the main page.

Sorry. Ayhoo, you can't miss it there I guess.
posted by Cyrano at 9:05 PM on September 6, 2006

holy nerdfilter batman!
posted by nola at 9:05 PM on September 6, 2006

Oh frack! I can't wait for the next season!!! Thanks for the reminder...
posted by wumpus at 9:10 PM on September 6, 2006

How do I watch web episode 1?
posted by muckster at 9:13 PM on September 6, 2006

yeah. it doesn't work for me either sadly... i looked them up in youtube and this one has godawful music playing in the background. I hope it's not official. but there are others there too, 30 second ones, which i presume are what Cyrano has linked us to.
posted by wumpus at 9:16 PM on September 6, 2006

Apparently not. I tried clicking one that said webisode 1 and... "This video has been removed at the request of copyright owner NBC Universal because its content was used without permission"
posted by wumpus at 9:18 PM on September 6, 2006

it is on demonoid though.... if you couldn't tell, i'm really excited about this.
posted by wumpus at 9:19 PM on September 6, 2006

anyone heard if these will be available offline at all?
posted by rschroed at 9:22 PM on September 6, 2006

but there are others there too, 30 second ones, which i presume are what Cyrano has linked us to.

No, these aren't preview-in-the-commercial-style clips like the one you linked to. The first one is a four minute, acted out like it was part of the show, piece. Not really sure what's going on.

The link I posted is part of the official Sci-Fi.com site. I'm not sure why you'd get a copyright notice.
posted by Cyrano at 9:24 PM on September 6, 2006

Apparently they're only viewable to people in the USA. I imagine the youtube link I watched yesterday is gone.
posted by glip at 9:29 PM on September 6, 2006

(The link seems to go where it's supposed to in IE, but not with Firefox.)
posted by Cyrano at 9:29 PM on September 6, 2006

anyone heard if these will be available offline at all?

From Tuesday's NYT article about the webisodes, it doesn't look like it; the point is to leverage the Net to increase interest in the offline show. Interestingly, scifi.com plans to post its one-hour series recap to YouTube and other free video sites, as well as on its own site. The webisodes have also raised interesting issues of compensation:

Are Web segments the same as episodes, so “Galactica’s” writers and actors should be compensated at union rates? Or are they something else, for which networks can pay less?

...NBC Universal filed a complaint against the Writers Guild of America last month, charging that the union violated labor law by telling members not to cooperate in the production of Web segments. In a statement NBC Universal said it "has a contract in place with its TV series producers to create promotional, made-for-Internet content, which include 'Webisodes.' We’re asking our producers to fulfill their obligations in creating these materials and we’re taking appropriate legal action to discourage the WGA’s interference."

Mona Mangan, executive director of the Writers Guild of America, East, said that the problem is the online segments do not fit so neatly into an existing category. "They’re trying to stretch the concept of promotion," she said. "It doesn’t fit."

Also:

It is not obvious how to measure the success of the online segments. Sci Fi executives said they would monitor how often the Webisodes are the subject of online discussions...

*waves to Sci Fi Channel executives*
posted by mediareport at 9:46 PM on September 6, 2006

that nytimes articles alludes to them being available for the ipod,

The 10 Web segments, each just a few minutes long and viewable on devices ranging from iPods to laptops to desktops to full-size television sets,

but bOINGbOING seems to think otherwise

They're not made available for viewing on iPods due to legal restrictions, according to a SciFi spokesperson.

posted by rschroed at 10:14 PM on September 6, 2006

They're not made available for viewing on iPods due to legal restrictions

Wonder if that's related to the union rates dispute with the Writers Guild.
posted by mediareport at 10:17 PM on September 6, 2006

ep 2 here
posted by damn dirty ape at 10:26 PM on September 6, 2006

So.. make little webepisodes for people to whet-their-appetites, then, make it really hard to actually watch and view, and ban those outside of USA, and end up pissing off your target market?

Interesting. I wonder if it will shower them in profits.
posted by lundman at 10:35 PM on September 6, 2006

Oh my lord. That made me moist. Of course, I'm one of those freakjobs who has been pondering making and Advent-style calendar leading up to the season premiere.

Still. Battlestar. It's like The West Wing and Firefly had a baby.
posted by redbeard at 10:42 PM on September 6, 2006 [2 favorites]

I had no trouble watching both of them just now, though the first one is a little tricky to get to; mostly just bad navigation design.

Go here (not to the link in the FPP), click the WATCH PREVIEW link in the bottom of the flash. This will launch a popup which will have a navigator on the right with thumbnails for both Ep 1 and 2.
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:44 PM on September 6, 2006

Damnit. Go here, I mean.
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:45 PM on September 6, 2006

Jeez, worst web interface ever. But worth it. The Gaza-strip/Iraq metaphors are kind of heavy-handed (guns in the temple!), but still the best scripted show on TV, period.
posted by turducken at 10:59 PM on September 6, 2006

...and does anyone remember how last season's finale ran long, so those with Tivos lost the last 3 mins, then they put the final 3 min up on the web, and the balky Flash interface kept conking out before the last 15 secs? Yeah, good times.
posted by turducken at 11:01 PM on September 6, 2006

Give me Firefly or give me death.

Aw, crap.
posted by A dead Quaker at 11:21 PM on September 6, 2006

"We're sorry, but the clip you selected isn't available from your location. Please select another clip."

I will select a clip for my MP5, if one of you frackers doesn't give me a fracking link we can use here in the UK. Or let me borrow your proxy. Argh.
posted by armoured-ant at 11:27 PM on September 6, 2006

Cyrano, thanks this thread persuaded me to order:

"Battlestar Galactica - Season 2.5 (Episodes 11-20)"
Edward James Olmos; DVD; $32.49

Sold by:Amazon.com
Shipping estimate for these items: September 24, 2006
Delivery estimate: September 27, 2006 - September 29, 2006
posted by ScrewDriver at 11:48 PM on September 6, 2006

I'll watch, but mark my words--they're gonna pull some type of Dallas-esque "It was only a dream" (re: the jump ahead a few years) garbage, and I'll stop watching.

And then, I shall be forced to construct a fruitful social life.
posted by bardic at 4:54 AM on September 7, 2006

They won't do that. I've been following the director's commentary up until the end of the second season and this is for real.
posted by heresiarch at 6:35 AM on September 7, 2006

Both episodes are still up and very much watchable on youtube...
posted by Lazlo Hollyfeld at 6:53 AM on September 7, 2006

I'll watch, but mark my words--they're gonna pull some type of Dallas-esque "It was only a dream" (re: the jump ahead a few years) garbage, and I'll stop watching.

I'm still bent up about St. Elsewhere. That same thing almost happened with me during one episode of Lost where the show started to appear that it was all in Hurley's head...almost gave up on it right there.
posted by samsara at 7:49 AM on September 7, 2006

1) How long before someone writes a parody version of "La Resistance" from the South Park movie?

2) Note how, for the web eps, they're holding back the big guns (aka Starbuck). And li'l Mr. Cutie Pie, the red-crewcut guy and his blonde wife are all new characters, right?

3) I hope this isn't tacky, but as it happens I just talked to Jesus Christ (the Lord Himself!) on my blog about which is better, Battlestar or Firefly. Enjoy.
posted by Tuffy at 8:02 AM on September 7, 2006

I want a Chubby Lee Adama lunchbox.
posted by cowbellemoo at 8:02 AM on September 7, 2006

It won't replace my beloved Deadwood, but BG is a pretty damn good show. I'm still catching-up with the first and second seasons, but hopefully I'll have it covered before the third season starts.
posted by purephase at 8:18 AM on September 7, 2006

redbeard: "Still. Battlestar. It's like The West Wing and Firefly had a baby."

I just need to point out what a perfect analogy this is. Man, I can't wait to see what's in store for season 3.
posted by Galvatron at 8:29 AM on September 7, 2006

Samsara: that final episode of St. Elsewhere had bigger ramifications than you may know...
posted by Ian A.T. at 11:50 AM on September 7, 2006

Props on your excellent usage of the "nerdgasm" tag!
posted by MaxVonCretin at 11:53 AM on September 7, 2006

"Still. Battlestar. It's like The West Wing and Firefly had a baby."

The West Wing and Firefly would have a retarded flipper baby. Battlestar is not a retarded flipper baby. It is awesome.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:21 PM on September 7, 2006

They don't have thalidomide in either universe, you douche.
posted by phearlez at 1:40 PM on September 7, 2006

Joss Whedon told me that thalidomide is a Chinese swear word. That was clever. Then I had a conversation about it with Aaron Sorkin. It went like this:

"Thalidomide is a Chinese swear word."
"Thalidomide is a Chinese swear word?"
"Thalidomide is a Chinese swear word."
"Thalidomide is a Chinese swear word?"
"Thalidomide is a Chinese swear word."
"Thalidomide is a Chinese swear word?"
"Thalidomide is a Chinese swear word."
"Thalidomide is a Chinese swear word?"

Then he tried to show me naked pictures of Rebecca Pidgeon, and I had to point out that he isn't really David Mamet, and that is in fact, his cat. Naked, but still.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:52 PM on September 7, 2006

Mamet?

Really.

I'm just...

It's-

I'm just thinking-

Look. Thalidomide.

Really.
posted by phearlez at 2:07 PM on September 7, 2006

So...have people figured out this is the best show on television yet?
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:21 PM on September 7, 2006

Go You Huskies!
posted by muckster at 8:39 PM on September 7, 2006